Текст книги "Broken Visions"
Автор книги: Jessica Sorensen
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
Chapter 3
Cold water splashes across my face and over my body, soaking my skin and my clothes. My body feels like it’s been ran over by a truck and my eyelids are so heavy it aches to try and open them. The air smells salty and is filled with the soft lull of the ocean. For a while, I just lie there, trying to decipher what’s going on because I’m too exhausted to move. But when water crashes over me again, I open my eyes just in time to see another wave headed at me. I scramble to my feet, hacking up water as I race up the beach and out of the ocean’s reach. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The ocean before me, sunlight reflecting against it, and behind me, houses and people basking in the sand. I’m back at the beach house in Maryland.
I would think that what had just happened was a dream, but I’m still clutching the crystal ball my father gave me.
“I’m here, which means…”I sprint off for the beach house where Alex, Aislin, Laylen, and my mom are, at least from what I can remember. I’m just hoping that it worked—that I’m back to a place in time where Alex is alive, I’m not possessed and everything is good, well as good as it can be.
I make it to the house in record time, panting, sweaty, but feeling better than I have in a while. I barrel up the stairs of the back porch and fling open the screen door. “Mom,” I yell, stumbling into the kitchen. “Mom! Alex! Aislin! Anyone!”
Silence.
I hurry from the kitchen to the living room, calling out everyone’s names, but the only noise comes from a grandfather clock in the corner of the room next to the sofa. Where is everyone? Did they go looking for me? Or did it… God, no I hate to think it, but I can’t help it. My father gave me very little details on how this would work which makes me wonder if maybe Alex is still dead or something and that’s where everyone is.
After searching the entire house and not finding any clues to where they could be, I begin looking for a phone. But then I realize I don’t have anyone’s number so it’s pointless. I’m about to endeavor out and start searching the streets when the front door opens and Alex enters, breathless. His dark-brown hair is messy, like he’d been raking his fingers through it repeatedly. His green eyes are wide and his lean muscles look taut through his T-shirt. His lips… God, his lips look so kissable.
The sight of him nearly sends me to the floor, my heart slamming against my chest so forcefully I can’t think. “You’re alive,” I breathe, gripping onto the end table to support my weight.
He gives me a strange look, stopping just short of me. “Of course I am…” His brows furrow as he reaches out and his fingers spreads across my cheek. Sparks ignite. Dance across my skin. Elated. Alive. “Are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick,” he says.
“I think I am,” I tell him, still stunned. Because my father did it. He reset time. He brought Alex back...
All I want to do is touch him. Feel him. Run my fingers through his hair, along his arms, his muscles, feel the smoothness of his skin. I want to taste his lips. Let his lips taste every inch of me. But Stephan’s words echo in my head, the consequences of us being together.
When Alex moves to touch me with his other hand I step back, even though it nearly kills me.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, confusion swarming across his face.
He has no idea.
How can I tell him? How can I tell the one person I’ve ever felt anything for that our emotions we have toward each other are wrong. That this amazing chemistry we have was never meant to be—that we were never meant to be.
“We can’t…” I shake my head, my stomach burning. I swear to God telling him is what’s going to end me. “We can’t…” I can’t do this.
Tears sting in my eyes, the knot in my stomach winding tighter. Blinding white heat ignites from inside me, so potent and toxic it feels like I’m on fire. The prickle appears, invisible but equally as toxic, piercing at my skin, telling me something I can’t interpret just yet, or maybe just don’t want to.
“I can’t breathe…” I choke. What is wrong with me? Something’s not… right… I collapse to my knees, my fingers digging into my chest. “I… can’t… breathe…” As I struggle for air, my vision spotting in and out, all I can think is, I’m dying.
The next few minutes pass by in a blur. Alex rubs his hand up and down my back, whispering soothing words. It’s going to be okay. You’re alright. Just breathe.
Just breathe.
It’s hard to breathe through the crushing ache in my lungs, my bones, everywhere. But after he gets me to the sofa and sits me down, I lower my head to my lap and take deep inhales and exhales, my heart starts to beat steady again and oxygen returns to my lungs.
I sit up with my arm wrapped around my stomach, blinking as the blood rushes from my head. “What happened?”
Alex is kneeling on the floor in front of me with his hand still on my back, eyeing me over with concern. “I think you were having a panic attack.”
I shake my head and scratch the spot of skin on the back of my neck where the prickle is going wild, the area a little tender. “It felt like I was being smothered.”
He moves his hand from my back to my leg. “Panic attacks can feel like that…” he trails off considering something. “But what I’m wondering is what happened to cause the panic attack? Is it because Laylen’s still missing?” His expression slightly hardens. “Because I promise we’ll find him. You’re mom and Aislin could have found them already too and just haven’t made it back yet.”
Sparks dance recklessly across my skin, reminding me of everything we are and never can be. “Find Laylen? Is he missing…” It dawns on me. I went back into the point in time where Laylen ran off, but I was never captured by Nicholas.
“Gemma, what’s wrong? You look like you’re going to be sick?” Alex skims over my body, assessing every part of me, making the sparks more intense and the consequences of them even heavier. “And why are your clothes wet?” His eyes drift to my hand still clutching the crystal ball, our fingers brushing and sending a surge up my body. He takes it from me and rotates it in his hand. “Where did you get this?”
Without even thinking, I extend my hand out and place it on Alex’s arm. The electricity surges with contact. I stare at the window over his shoulder, the sunlight blinding but refreshing in the best way possible. “I can’t believe it worked.”
Alex gets to his feet then sits down beside me with a concerned look on his face. “Gemma, I don’t know what’s going on but I’d really appreciate it if you’d explain it to me.” He’s trying to be patient with me instead of his normal, bossy self, probably because recent information about his father and what he did to all of us, including Alex himself, is affecting him.
“Something happened to me,” I tell him. “But I’m not sure if you’re going to believe it or not.”
His brow arches. “I’m not really sure there is anything I wouldn’t believe at this point.”
He has a point. So many crazy things have happened over the last week or two that it makes anything seem possible, but still, everyone has been telling us how changing visions is impossible and I just reset time. I need to explain everything to him and I mean everything, not just about resetting time, but what led up to the point that it had to happen, which means telling him about Stephen and my possession and the worst part—how we’re not supposed to be together. How we can kill one another if we fall in love. But before I divulge this to him, before I give him up, I want him one last time. The prickle hasn’t announced my love for him, or anyone else for that matter, yet and I’m not sure if it ever will, but what I do know is that Alex will more than likely put a stop to all the touching, kissing, cutting off the human contact I’ve been deprived off for years and I want it one more time before it’s gone.
So before either of us can say anything I lean forward and press my lips to his. I try to shut down the overwhelming heat, the passionate sparks, the scorching hot desire that tidal waves through me as I slip my tongue into his mouth.
He kisses me back without any hesitation, as if he has no control over the situation or anything else, and honestly, I don’t think either of us does. We’re prisoners to our lust, want, need, a million different things that feel like they own me all the damn time and I’m giving in.
“I surrender,” I say against his lips, not really too him.
But he pulls back, eyes glossy, filled with desire, an addict wanting his next taste, just how I feel at the moment. “Huh?” He cups my cheek. “Gemma, please tell me what’s wrong.”
I want to tell him, but not yet. The greedy addict in me wants just one more moment before I give it all up. “I surrender,” I say again, like it’s supposed to mean something, and the flash of hunger in his eyes makes me think that it might means something to him.
Suddenly he’s colliding his lips against mine and everything that matters doesn’t. Nothing else exists.
Nothing.
Out tongues tangle together, hands wandering all over each other’s bodies. I forget how to breathe like I did seconds ago, but it doesn’t matter. Let me stop breathing, because that’s how it’s going to be in a few minutes. As the excruciating pain of reality bares down on me, I suddenly get to my feet. Alex starts to protest, but I grab his arm and pull him to his feet. Then before I can stop myself, I move to tug his shirt off his head, but somehow in the intensity of the moment, I manage to rip the fabric in half, as if I’ve gotten stronger somehow. Alex looks down at his chest, shocked, and I feel the same way. But the shock fizzles as I take in the sight of his flawless muscles and fiery sun tattoo blazing on his skin—his Keeper’s mark—and instead I trace my fingers along it, noting how fast he’s breathing.
His gaze lingers on my hands, then drift to my face. Something in his eyes causes heat to coil deep inside me and course through my veins like a powerful drug. He wants me as much as I want him and it nearly sends me through the roof. I’m about to smash my lips against his, unable to control myself, but he stops me, reaching for me. And like I did with him, he tears my shirt from my body, but with purpose unlike me. Then with one swift movement, he has my bra undone and moments later we melt together like liquid steel.
I slip my fingers through his hair and tug on the roots, causing him to moan and start backing us up somewhere. Clothes come off on our way down the hallway, pants, boxers, panties, most of which gets torn to shreds. My nails scratch at his skin, claw at his back, as he bites at my lips, my neck, groaning over and over again, leaving teeth marks on my body that leave a wonderful ache along my skin. The twisted part of me hopes they’ll leave scars, that way I can at least have a reminder of this when I’m full of emptiness again.
We continue to kiss and tear each other apart, never making it to the bed. Instead he picks me up as soon as we step into the nearest room and slams me into the wall so hard I’m sure I’m going to have a bruise. But I don’t care—I don’t care about anything at the moment as I fastened my legs around him, allowing him to rock his hips and thrust deep inside me.
“Oh God.” My head tips back and I moan louder than I ever have as my fingernails dig even deeper into his flesh, cutting it open and causing blood to trickle out. Thankfully he’s a Keeper, otherwise he’d have scars all over his body. I wish everything was that way—that if we were strong enough we’d escape getting scars, outside and in. Maybe then I could erase the scars of life. Maybe then I would know that when this moment is over and I know I can’t have it anymore, my heart and soul won’t be scarred.
But I know that’s not the case. I realize as Alex kisses me, slipping in and out of me, touching me more than anyone ever has, that I feel more for him than I’ll ever let myself admit.
Then I ever can admit.
Chapter 4
After we both come together, we relax and finally make it to the bed. Naked. Sweaty. And exhausted. Alex is lying next to me, one hand to his side, the other in his hair as he smiles contently at the ceiling. I lie on my side and stare at him, the elation and bliss he instilled inside me rapidly dissipating.
“That was…” he searches for words, catching his breath.
“Amazing,” I finish for him only my deflated tone doesn’t match my word.
He picks up on my depressed vibe and frowns at me. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, trying to keep my lips sealed, telling myself that it’s okay to keep the secret just a little bit longer. But suddenly my conscience takes over and everything comes spilling out. Everything that happened to me over the last few days, or didn’t happen anyway, but I dither around the most major revelation of all, at least when it comes to us.
When I finish, Alex eyes are enlarged, his mouth hanging open, flabbergasted. “So what you’re saying is that right now we’re technically in the past.”
I prop up on my elbow and rest my cheek against my hand, ignoring how his gaze sweeps across my naked body and causes my skin to swelter. “I don’t think so. I think the days I spent possessed have been erased since I can remember them. I think that maybe somehow my father erased and recreated some of the events of my life, so that I would end up back here in this point of time… with you… fully alive.” I move to pull the sheet over my body, but Alex snags my hand and stops me.
He bites his bottom lip, reflecting. “And so that my father never got a hold of you and you were possessed?”
“That too.” I blow out a tense breath, knowing I’m going to have to tell him the rest soon. “He only told me he erased a vision once and recreated it to change the outcome of the world’s future… changed it so that the world would end the way I saw it in my ice vision.” Tears sting at my eyes. When my father had told me, it didn’t seem as bad, but I think I might have been in some kind of semi-subdued state, or shock, because now it is really kicking in and I feel like I’m about to lose it.
“Hey, we’ll figure this out.” Alex tucks a strand of my hair out of my eyes. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”
“I know, but my father… I just can’t believe he did that.” I suck back the tears. “And he’s trapped at that place.”
“Where exactly was he?” he asks, resting his hand on the curve of my hip.
“He wouldn’t tell me exactly where he was. He wouldn’t tell me anything really, other than I have to save the world somehow. And that everything I needed to know about saving the world was inside in my head and that crystal ball.”
Alex massages my hip absentmindedly. “It’s so strange, though. I’ve always been told that Foreseers aren’t supposed to control how the future turns out or recreate visions how they want them. They’re just supposed to see—not touch.”
“Yeah…but I don’t know…it seems like it could be possible. I mean, look at me. I can travel around wherever I want by using my Foreseer ability, without the aid of a crystal ball, which isn’t really a normal Foreseer thing either.”
“Yeah, but you are…” He trails off as I give him a cold stare because he was about to say different, and I really dislike being called that. “Unique,” he finishes, with a teasing smile that focuses all of my attention on his lips.
My heart sinks inside my chest, though, at the thought of kissing him. I’ll never be able to kiss him again unless I figure out a way to get rid of the star's power, without killing myself of Alex.
“Gemma, I can tell there’s something else bothering you,” Alex says. “I can feel it…” His forehead creases as if the revelation has baffled him as well as me. “So please just tell me.”
“You can feel it?”
He gives a one-shoulder shrug. “Sometimes when you’re really upset… I know… but don’t ask me how because I have no idea.” He pauses. “But quit changing the subject and please for the love of God, tell me what’s eating at you because it’s starting to eat at me.”
I grow quiet, trying to figure out how to explain that we can’t be with each other anymore; at least not in a way that will cause us to develop feelings of love toward one another. That the Blood Promise we made to be together forever is meaningless.
“I have to tell you—” I finally work up the strength, but am interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming and then Aislin calling out, “Hello?!”
I instantly spring from the bed, searching the floor for my clothes, while Alex lazily gets to his feet as if nothing’s wrong, as if we weren’t just having hot, intense sex in probably the worst moment possible.
I get some jeans and a fresh t-shirt out of the dresser and start to get dressed.
“What’s the rush?’ Alex asks amusedly as he takes his time putting his jeans back on.
“Nothing.” I tug the white shirt over my head in a hurry, then comb my fingers through my long brown hair in a lame attempt to tame the chaos of my tangled locks. “I just don’t want her thinking that we’re in here fooling around when we should be looking for Laylen.”
There is a hint of annoyance in his eyes as he picks up a shirt that’s on the floor and pulls it on. “But that’s exactly what we were doing.”
“I know but…” I trail off as Aislin calls out again and head out of the room, Alex slowly following behind me.
Aislin’s in the living room, cheeks pink, her golden-brown hair is frizzy from the moisture of the spring air, and her shorts and t-shirt are stained with dirt as if she’s been grave digging. I can tell immediately that something’s up, something is upsetting her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I straighten up my shirt.
Aislin shakes her head, pressing her lips together as if stifling a cry. “Laylen…Lay…” Suddenly she bursts into sobs, her head falling into her hands as she sinks onto the nearest chair.
I hurry over to her. “What happened to Laylen? And where’s my mom?” I’m painfully reminded that reality that saving the world and staying away from Alex isn’t my only responsibility. I also need to save a vampire who, at least from the last time I saw him, was dealing with blood thirst issues that I caused by begging him to bite me so he wouldn’t die.
“Your mom’s still out looking for him… I needed a break because I can’t… can’t…” Aislin cries harder, gasping for air. “I can’t... do… this...”
I’m not spectacular with emotions, but I do my best and give her a pat on the back. “It’s going to be okay. Just tell us what’s wrong.”
My attempt to soothe her is way better than Alex’s. He rolls his eyes, appearing irritated. “Just spit it out, Aislin.”
Looking hurt, Aislin wipes the tears away as she raises her head back up. “I can’t find him anywhere... And I’m worried… what he might be doing.”
“Me too,” I agree, wanting to scream at myself for being so selfish just five minutes ago and only thinking about myself.
Alex drops down on the sofa across from us and props his foot on his knee. “Yeah, we all are, but freaking out isn’t going to help us find him.”
“You don’t need to be rude,” Aislin snaps. “I’m just a little upset, okay?” Tears well in her eyes again. “I never got to tell him I was… sorry… for everything.” Tears pour out of her eyes and she abruptly shoves me back and takes off down the hallway, leaving me wide eyed and baffled, because honestly I thought only I reacted so dramatically.
“You know, sometimes I’m grateful I can shut off my emotions when I need to.” Alex mutters. “It keeps me from doing things like that.”
“Not all emotions are bad,” I point out, sitting in the spot Aislin just evacuated.
“No they’re not.” Hunger burns in his eyes and emits his voice, his breathing quickening uncontrollably as he looks at me. Then without notice, he’s getting to his feet and crossing the room toward me, his arm extended as if he’s going to grab me again and pull me into another irresistible kiss.
For a faltering second I stay motionless, wanting him to do it. But then I remember that I already had my selfish moment and it’s time to fess up and deal with things the right way, so I lean back right as he’s about to touch me.
His expression contorts with confusion as he withdraws his hand to his side and stops just in front of me. He assesses me intently and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a straight insight to my thoughts. “What are you not telling me?”
I take a deep breath and motion between us. “You and I can’t—”
“What the fuck. You’re head's bleeding.” He cuts me off, squinting at my forehead.
“What?”
“There’s blood all over the side of your head.” He drops to his knees and his fingers brush my temple. This time I don’t budge, letting him inspect, wondering what’s going on.
Then my finger drifts to the area he’s touching as I start to feel an aching sensation there and is instantly coated with a warm, sticky substance. Blood. All over my hair and skin and now my fingers. I quickly jump to my feet and rush over to a mirror on the wall to examine my head. On the left side of my scalp, there is a deep cut covered by blood that trails down my cheek and is also matted in my hair.
“That wasn’t there a minute ago.” Alex moves up behind me to inspect the cut some more. “It was like it appeared out of nowhere.”
“But then where did it come from.” We exchange a puzzled look, but something in my mind is clicking. Why was the injury so familiar? And the pain spreading through my skull… I’ve felt it before. Suddenly it hits me, like a punch to the gut. “Oh my God.”
Alex’s arms protectively enclose around me. “What’s wrong?”
“I think…” I don’t finish and sprint across the living room for the back door.
“Where are you going?” Alex calls out, running after me.
I don’t answer, throwing open the back door and leaping down the steps. Then I race across the sandy beach toward the cliff area where Nicholas knocked me out before handing me over to Stephan.
“Gemma!” Alex yells from at my heels. “Where the heck are you going?”
I push past a few people blocking the entrance chatting and drinking beers and they curse and flip me off. But I disregard them, calling over my shoulder to Alex, “I have to see something.” I wind through the rocks, feel the bottom of my feet scrape open, but don’t slow down. Blood continues to trickle out of the wound on my head and sweat beads my skin as the sun blazes down on me. Finally, I slow to a jog as I approach the mouth of the cliffs where the rocks part.
Alex halts beside me, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. “I get the whole need answers now thing, but fucking hell, will you please tell me what’s going on?”
“I want to see if there’s something back here…” I explain vaguely, wiping the sweat from my brow as I venture closer to the area Nicholas took me down at.
“Okay…” Alex walks beside me. “Could you be a little less vague?”
I scan the ground and rocks. “I’m looking for a sign that the past that was erased has taken place, if that makes any sense.”
“Kind of.” He squints against the sunlight as he searches the tops of the rocks. “But I thought you said that didn’t happen.” He shields his eyes with his hand. “That your father erased it, so why do you think there would be a sign?”
I look over my shoulder at him. “I thought he did but now...” I shake my head. “I have no idea what’s going on, but if there’s blood back here, then something’s up—something’s not right, because the cut bleeding on my head right now was exactly where Nicholas hit me before he kidnapped me and gave me over to Stephan.” My head throbs and a warm line of blood drips down my skin. I press my hand against the wound and delve further into the cliffs cautiously, keeping an eye out for blood and a blond haired faerie.
When I arrive at the end of the path where rocks open up into a small sandy area, my heart rate accelerates. And my confusion multiplies.
Alex squeezes up to the side of me and squints down at the ground in front of our feet where a body lies in the sand. “What is that?”
“It’s….me.” I gaze down at myself, unconscious, laying in a pool of blood, wearing the clothes I had on when I’d been taken to the Wastelands. “Am I in a vision right now?” Out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a figure appearing and moving toward us. Nicholas. I jump back, knocking my shoulder into Alex’s chest, and he steadies me with his hands.
Nicholas, who is usually alarmingly calm, appears as shocked as me. His golden eyes are wide, lips slightly parted, as he stares down at the me in the sand.
“How the hell did that happen…” He trails off as comprehension rises on his face and he looks up at me. “Wow, I’m very impressed.” He starts clapping his hands mockingly, like the true asshole that he is. “Bravo, I must say. You become more amazing each time our paths cross.” He grins wickedly at me and then a split second later, he’s lunging for me.
I don’t have the reflexes of a cat by any means, and Nicholas is skilled in the art of lunging. Thankfully, Alex’s reflexes are flawless and with one swift movement, he’s positioned himself in front of me and clocks Nicholas in the jaw.
“Dammit…” Nicholas’s eyes roll into the back of his head and he falls back, landing hard in the sand, out cold.
Alex shakes out his hand as he turns to me. “His head is as hard as a rock.”
I laugh, but it swiftly vanishes as I step over Nicholas and make my way over to the body of me lying in the sand. Is it real? Or is she just a vision? Hesitantly I crouch down and place a hand on her arm. There’s a zap that shoots through my body and jolts straight to my heart, more powerful than even the current of sparks between Alex and me. I gasp, feeling the past moment erase and evaporate into the wind, vanishing, as if it had never even existed at all.
As the body of me goes with it, my hand falls onto the sand. “Wow.” I’m speechless as I stare at the empty spot. The ocean crashes against the other side of the rocks, birds sing in the distance, and the wind kisses my cheeks, the world becoming at peace with time, or at least that’s what it feels like.
“Gemma.” Alex puts a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
His hand falls from my shoulder as I rise to my feet. My mind is so wired from the power still lingering inside me that I can barely get my eyes to blink. “I think so, but I think I need to…” I clutch my head, where the wound was and note that it’s no longer there. I should feel better, but I feel strangely dizzy and disoriented. “I think I need to lie down.” I stagger to the side, my elbow slamming into one of the rocks. Skin scrapes open, Alex says something but his voice sounds far away as I collapse to the ground.
